741. Imagining the Possibilities in Stories

“A family friend, an author, reached out to me and asked if I would illustrate a book he was working on. I fell in love with the process of creating stories and learned all the ins and outs on what it really takes, including the not-so-glamorous side of writing a children’s book. That gave me a lot of direction. Even though it was really a very challenging path, I decided I wanted to go down that path.”

“I got into a program called Assets for Artists. They would teach artists personal finance in business. It was basically a bootcamp to help artists make a living with their art. They also did a match savings program, so we had savings goals in a custodial account and they would match our savings so we could invest that into our business. In conjunction with working with a local author, the Assets for Artists Program helped me focus and start thinking more as an entrepreneur.”

“I learned from my dad how to combine work and play. He worked 5 days a week as a carpenter on very labor-intensive building and construction jobs. When he came home he still had a ton of chores and projects to do, and he’d always include me and my two younger brothers. We would spend hours stacking the wood that he had split with his big axe and we’d groove out to classic rock music. Now I look back and realize how we got into that feeling of flow, that meditative state of contentment where you shut off your thinking mind and simply are in the now doing the task at hand. I use those same principles today and can find contentment doing any hard task or long grueling project.”

1. We’ve been conditioned to think you must choose between success or happiness. That’s a myth and a mindset you can break out of.

2. To find your true passion or calling, revisit your childhood. Look through your old toys or photo albums. Reflect on the things you did that gave you the most pleasure.

3. There are countless tools and resources around you today. Whether it’s the counselors at your college or university or friends and acquaintances that can share their experiences and insights with you, stay open to those opportunities.

4. Every profession or occupation has principles and practices that separate the top performing individuals from everyone else. Learn those things through courses, such as I did through the Assets for Artists course I took after college. That was a pivotal experience for me.